• Striking temperature shifts experienced in China
By Abdullahi Lukman
Northern Australia faced severe weather conditions last weekend, with flood warnings issued for the region and more flooding expected to affect South-eastern parts of the Northern territory and Western Queensland early this week.
A broad trough, an area of lower pressure, has been moving across northern Australia, pulling in warm, moist air from the Gulf of Carpentaria. This has created ideal conditions for severe thunderstorms, including supercells.
Over the weekend, heavy rainfall of more than 70mm (2.75 inches) in just an hour fell in regions typically characterized by dry conditions.
Some local stations reported more than 100mm of rain within 24 hours, including 132mm at Marion Downs in Queensland. The combination of high rainfall and dry ground has raised the risk of flash flooding, with river catchments also vulnerable to flooding after the storms.
Currently, minor flood watches are in place, but a more significant flood watch may be issued later in the week as the rain moves through various river systems, potentially affecting communities and transportation routes.
As the trough moves eastward into Queensland on Monday and Tuesday, some models predict up to 200mm of rain in central and southern Queensland within 24 hours, followed by another 100mm or more by Wednesday, heightening the flash flood threat throughout the week.
Meanwhile, in China, a dramatic temperature shift is expected over the coming days, with temperature drops exceeding 20°C in less than 48 hours.
Southern and eastern China will experience high temperatures in the low to mid-30s Celsius, about 18°C above average.
Shanghai is forecast to reach 35-36°C on Wednesday, but temperatures will drop sharply by Friday, potentially reaching the teens.
The most significant temperature change will be in Lanzhou, where a high of 25°C on Tuesday will plummet to just above freezing by Thursday, a drastic shift from the usual 16°C average for this time of year. Although temperature swings in spring are common, the speed and scale of this change are notable.